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FINAL REPORT ON THE STUDY AND 
APPRAISAL OF MUSSEL RE- 
SOURCES IN SELECTED AREAS 
OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI 
RIVER 



BY N. M. GRIER, PH. D. 



Reprinted From 

The American Midland Naturalist 

Vol. VIII. No. 1. Jan. 1922. 




MINNESOTA 




HI55I55IPPI RIVER AND 
TRIBUTARIES 

FHOi"\ PREJCOTT, WIS. TO LAMOILLE MINN. ■ 

A\AP SHOWING AREAS 
SURVEYED in 

FRESHWATER PfflRL AIM5EL APPRAISAL INVEi- 
TIGATJON- JULY, AUGUST, 1910 

under 0r. /Yer-tntm j*f. Grief. 

BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Justus rr /wl4£/i - 



FINAL REPORT ON THE STUDY AND 
APPRAISAL OF MUSSEL RE- 
SOURCES IN SELECTED AREAS 
OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI 
RIVER 



BY N. M. GRIER, PH. 



D. 



Reprinted From 

The American Midland Naturalist 

Vol. VIII. No. 1. Jan. 1922. 






MAR K 1922 



Final Report on the Study and Appraisal of Mussel Resources in 
Selected Areas of the Upper Mississippi River.* 

BY N. M. GRIER, PH. D. f 

Washington and Jefferson College. Washington, Pa. 

I. INTRODUCTION. 

During the months of July and August, 1920, the U. S. 
Bureau of Fisheries made a study and appraisal of the mussel 
resources of the Mississippi River in and between the areas 
commencing at a point about five miles above Red Wing, Min- 
nesota, extending thence through Lake Pepin, and ending 
nearly 80 miles down stream at La Moille, Minn. More exact 
boundaries for the areas will be indicated hereafter. The 
work carried on was with reference to recent administrative 
action on the part of the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota, 
which provided for the closure of certain of these areas for 
the protection of the fresh water mussels, as well as for areas 
to remain subject to fishery. From the data acquired in this 
investigation, it is expected to establish a basis for compari- 
son of conditions in the present and after a period of pro- 
tection. 

II. GENERAL CONDITIONS IN THE AREAS. 

While usually attaining a depth of from 5-20 ft. within the 
limits of the state of Minnesota, the river at the time of this 
investigation was in a flood stage of from 2-9 ft. One ap- 
parent effect of the latter condition was to cause a migration 
of the mussels shoreward, as in general the outer limits of the 
shell beds are often determined by the deeper waters of the 
channel. The fall of the river is greater below L. Pepin than 



* Published with the authorization of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries. Contri- 
bution from the Fairport Biological Station. 

t During this inestigation, Messrs. J. F. Mueller and W. Teachout served as 
assistants. 



2 . THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

above it, resulting in a more rapid current in the former 
region, which is accelerated by the pressure of the impounded 
waters of the Lake. Where snags are abundant on the bot- 
tom, this current is strong enough to make mussel fishing with 
crowfoot bars somewhat dangerous. 

The bottom of the river within the areas is for the most 
part composed of fairly coarse gravel mixed with varying 
proportions of mud and sand. The latter increase perceptibly 
in the vicinity of the tributary streams of the region, the 
principal entering streams being the Cannon River at Red 
Wing, the Chippewa at Read's Landing, the Zumbro near Wa- 
basha, Minn., and the Trempealeau below Winona, Minn. 
The Chippewa is principally responsible for the enormous 
quantities of sand brought into these areas discussed below 
Lake Pepin. Only through the construction of wing dams 
have the Government engineers been able to preserve a navi- 
gable channel. These dams are designed to catch the sand 
near mid-stream, deflecting it toward the shore where it 
ultimately forms sand bars or islands, but unfortunately 
smothering at the same time -the valuable clam beds which 
formerly existed in the Mississippi below Lake Pepin, with 
the consequent discouragement of the clamming industry. In 
the opinion of some engineers, it appears practicable to ter- 
race the banks of the Chippewa near Lake Pepin in such a 
way as to divert the sand to fill up the low lying country near- 
by, but a better preventative would be the reforestation of 
the Chippewa drainage basin. The conservation of the 
national mussel resources in thus seen to be closely related 
to other problems of national economy. 

III. STATUS OF THE MUSSEL FISHERIES IN 
RELATION TO THE PRECEDING. 
That stretch of the river about five miles northwest of Red 
Wing in the vicinity of Diamond Island, and which is known 
to old-time clammers as the Trenton Bed, is apparently but 
little worked, although our observations indicate that such 
might be profitably undertaken as it is in an area subject to 
fishery. At Red Wing itself the summer, of the survey, three 
clammers were observed. They reported that their returns 
seemed to be diminishing, although in past years this im- 
mediate section was considered one of the best on the river. 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 3 

As will be observed in the accompanying tables, certain 
species, commercial as well as non-commercial, have been 
clammed out of this as well as other localities, some trace of 
them always being found in the piles of shells observed along 
the bank, or old clammers remembered collecting them in the 
vicinity. 

Within the area studied, the clamming center of the river 
is in that part of Lake Pepin between Lake City and Pepin, 
as in late years the profitable downstream limit of the mussel 
fishery in these areas has been found to be the outlet of Lake 
Pepin about V/-2, miles northwest of Read's Landing in an 
area which' has since been closed to clamming. Lake Pepin 
furnishes most of the shells from the areas considered, but 
its clam resources appear to be attracting but few fishermen. 
Where in 1914, 100 rigs were observed in operation oh the 
lake, hardly more than 15 were working in the summer of. 
1920. However, it is stated on good authority, (a), that 
about 200 tons of mussel shells, with an average valuation of 
from $50 to $55 per ton had their source in this region. The 
best pearl found sold for $750, a half dozen others brought 
from $100 to $175. 

South of Lake Pepin during August, 1920, but two other 
clammers were seen, one rig at Winona, Minn., and a solitary 
clammer working with a fork in the nearby Straight Slough, 
obtaining only scanty returns. Piles of dead shells on the 
banks of the latter indicated the former abundance of the 
mussel fauna. At one time there existed extensive mussel 
beds at or near Wabasha, Minn., Teepeeota Point, (about 4 
miles downstream from the former) ; near Alma and Foun- 
tain City, Wis.; Minneiska and Winona, Minn. The party 
found greater or smaller remnants of these formerly worked 
beds.. They appear to be composed of old and sometimes 
gigantic shells, with an absolute dearth of younger ones. This 
would indicate that the beds are not being maintained, even 
if bottom conditions generally are favorable for mussel life. 
If it were found practicable to restock such beds with juvenile 
shells, such beds might readily regenerate. Reasons com- 
monly assigned within the last mentioned regions for the de- 



(a) A well informed manufacturer writes "As near as we' are able to estimate, there 
have been between 200-250 tons of shells collected on the Mississippi River between 
St. Paul and Winona during 1920, and inasmuch as Lake Pepin is the center of the 
clamming industry, we believe that 90% of the total amount would represent the 
quantity taken from Lake Pepin and close vicinity. 



4 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

pletion of the mussels resources, and the consequent decline 
of the clamming industry may be given : 

1. The smothering of the mussel beds by sand deflected 
by the dams has been previously indicated. Additionally it 
may be stated that the increased current thereby insured has 
the probable effect of sweeping juveniles just dropped from 
fish long distances down stream, or to lodge them upon the 
sand bars, where later they may be covered up. 

Within the limitations of the apparatus used in this inves- 
tigation, it was not found practicable to estimate quantitatively 
the extent of the mussel beds smothered in this fashion. 
Under such circumstances, the dead shells were difficult to 
collect by the prevalent method of clamming. To indicate 
that such beds were formerly extensive are the statements 
of fishermen as corroborated by the observation of govern- 
ment engineers. Mention is made further on of those beds 
which came under the party's observation. 

2. Destructive fishing methods formerly in use, such as 
taking very young shells, deliberately clamming out beds, or 
fishing with the shoulder rake, are also responsible. The 
party found evidence of the latter in most of the beds last 
mentioned. However, favorable sentiment toward respecting 
this part of the protective laws is widely prevalent. 

3. The growth of formerly extensive mussel beds near 
communities situated along the river has been inhibited by 
the pernicious practice of dumping rubbish of somewhat in- 
destructible nature in the river at those points. While state 
laws are also clear upon this point, the enforcement- of them 
seems largely a matter of local .sentiment. 

The remnants of the clam beds at Alma, Fountain City, 
and Minneiska, appear to be the ones affected in this *way. 
The appraisal Work here was unusually difficult due to the 
fouling of the collecting apparatus on such obstructions as 
slag, old iron, etc, in the water. From the economic stand- 
point, the least which may be granted is that such rubbish has 
the effect of rendering the mussels but difficultly accessible to 
the fisherman, and he is inclined to let such beds alone. Such 
mussel resources are therefore not utilized. On the other 
hand, it is recognized that materials such as sand, coal, 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 5 

cinders, ashes, logs, decaying wood, bark, sawdust, as were 
often encountered, have a distinctly injurious effect upon fish 
when dumped into the water. This is important, when it be 
remembered that fish carry the larval young of the mussels 
about with them. Such a combination may account for the 
scarcity of young shells in the beds, or tend to render the en- 
vironment a more difficult one to combat, whatever be the 
more direct reason. 

As the situation is today, the sand bars created by the dams 
may, following certain conditions such as flood or drought, 
harbor mussels in sufficient abundance as to make their tak- 
ing by hand fairly profitable. Characteristically abundant 
and commercial species found on such sand bars are the 
three-ridge and blue-point, (Quadrula olicata and undulata) , 
pig-toe, (Quadrula undata) , pocketbook, (Lampsilis ventri- 
cosa) , with lesser quantities of the pimple back, (Quadrula 
pustulosa), hickory nut, (Ob ov aria ellipsis), and monkey 
face, (Quadrula metanevra) . Most of these shells, especially 
the pocket books, were of an excellent quality for button 
making. 

In many cases the mussels, especially the younger ones in- 
habiting the sand bars, were observed to be dying in large 
numbers as the result of their inability to move with the 
water as it fell from the flood stages. The utilization of 
the mussel resources below Lake Pepin therefore seems to 
demand that the mussels be taken from the sandbars by hand 
when desirable for commercial purposes, and that the strand- 
ed animals be given the conserving care such as fish receive 
in rescue work. By way of experiment, the party stocked 
two sections of an area in which mussels were nearly absent, 
but in which conditions seemed quite favorable, with younger 
shells of various species, collected from the sand bars, where, 
by the way, shells are more abundantly taken by hand than 
from the bottom by crowfoot bars. 

While the sloughs are dammed off from the river for the 
ultimate purpose of draining them, they are as rich, if not 
richer in mussels than the main river. Excellent examples 
of sloughs with a richer fauna are the Belvedere and Straight 
Sloughs, and the West Newton Chute. In all these, shells 
were collected by hand or by crowfoot bars. Work 



6 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST , 

with the latter in deeper portions of Straight Slough and 
West Newton Chute in their lower stretches, revealed the 
fact that young beds of shells of commercial quality were 
flourishing under conditions which might be favorable for 
restocking, despite the ultimately desired effect of the dams, 
as the sloughs are to some extent fed with local drainage. 
Piles of shells at these points indicated the extent of former 
clamming operations. Certain species, such as the bull head, 
(Pleurobema aesopsus) , as we collected it, apparently find 
their most congenial environment here. Shells collected from 
the sloughs appear to have brighter colors and a finer grain 
than those secured from the river proper. 

When the preceding data on general conditions in the areas 
and the status of the mussel fisheries are considered in en- 
tirety, it becomes evident that before the mussel resources of 
these areas can be improved, some practicable basis must be 
determined, from which measures looking forward to the 
protection and the improvement of the mussel resources can 
be inaugurated. This is all the more important when it is 
remembered that the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota are 
pioners in the legislation for the protection of mussel re- 
sources, it is quite likely that other states will enact similar 
measures. The reason for this study and appraisal of mussel 
resources in certain areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota thus 
becomes clear. 

IV. METHODS. 

(a.) Description of outfit for collection of shells. 

The work was approached from the standpoint of the mussel 
fisherman, a bar and crowfoot outfit being used to collect the 
shells. • The outfit was towed from place to place by a 
Government Launch. In the areas above Lake Pepin, 
(I- VI. inc.,) 100 hooks were attached to each of the 16-ft. bars. 
Below Lake Pepin, starting at Read's Landing, (areas VII.-X. 
inclus.), the river bottom is heavily infested with snags, so 
the bars were shortened to 10 ft., with a consequent reduction 
in the number of hooks on each to 75. In the first named 
areas, the data presented represents the results of three trials 
of the same length of drag with the bars, (300 ft.) ar oach. 
of the localities, (those to be checked five years hefrce), in- 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 7 

dicated. In the remaining areas, the number of drags was in- 
creased from 3 to 4, to compensate for the reduction in the 
number of hooks, but otherwise the procedure was the same. 

Additionally, the john-boat had at its bow, a hand windlass 
bearing 300 ft. of stout, (% in.) line, to the free end of which 
an anchor was attached. In proceeding from locality to lo- 
cality, the windlass was locked, and the boat towed by a 
separate piece of line. Two separate dredgings were also 
made of the bottom of the river in each locality, proceeding 
from the same initial point. The dredge used consisted of a 
heavy rectangular frame work of iron about 18 in. in length, 
6 in. in breadth, at the mouth, and 6 in. in height. To it was 
fastened a large and very closely woven net with the capacity 
of about a bushel,- and with meshes varying from 1-16 to y$ 
in. The net was protected by a canvas cover attached at one 
end to the iron framework, and open at the o^ther. Ropes, 
V2 in. were attached to iron rings on the shorter side of the 
frame work, and these lead forward to a single rope 50 ft. 
in length, secured in the stern of the john-boat. The longer 
and outer edges of the iron framework were provided with 
coarse, triangularly shaped teeth, 4 in. in length, while the 
mouth was guarded by 4-5 stout iron wires, running ver- 
tically to the longer axis of the iron framework and spaced 
about 3 in. apart. The teeth provided for the dislodgement 
of shells and other materials from the bottom of the river, 
while the guards around the mouth prevented the ingress of 
very large gravel or other objects. Additionally, the length 
of rope with which it was attached, provided for reaching the 
greatest depth of bottom, while after the dredge was lifted, 
and the attached rope drawn in about 4-5 of its length, the 
launch could speed up, and thus most of the mud and sand 
obscuring the contents of the dredge washed away. By means 
of the dredge, a fair idea of conditions on the bottom of the 
particular locality could be determined. Such data would 
later be useful in connection with propagation experiments. 

(b) . Collecting Mussels for study and appraisal. 

When it was determined to appraise a particular locality, 
a starting point was determined by methods shortly to be 
described, the windlass and the tow-line were released, and 



8 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

the launch going ahead unreeled the 300 ft. of line into the 
water until it was very nearly taut, when the operator of the 
launch dropped the anchor at the free end. For the purpose 
of temporarily anchoring the john-boat while the line was 
being payed out, one of the bars, usually that one to be placed 
to the rear, was at favorable opportunity, dropped into the 
water in such a way that it laid at right angles with the shore, 
and dragged parallel to it. When it had touched bottom, it 
was secured into position by means of props and by knotting 
its rope around one of the uprights. As shortly thereafter 
as the boat had swung into a favorable position as to render 
less liable the entangling of the hooks of the bars, the re- 
maining bar was dropped and secured likewise. 

After the anchor was dropped and the bars properly played, 
one of the two operators in the john-boat, windlassed the 
latter by slow and steady turns up to the point where the 
anchor had been dropped, observing from time to time the 
relative apparent motion of the shore line to make certain 
that snagging or fouling of the bars was not causing the 
john-boat to pull the anchor towards it in the meantime. 
When such was found to be the case, the bars were pulled up, 
the catch discarded, and a new trial made. When the john- 
boat had been properly windlassed up to the anchor, the 
latter and the bars were pulled up, the mussels taken off the 
hooks and thrown into a tub. The launch then towed the 
john-boat back to the original starting place, when this pro- 
cedure was repeated twice again for each locality, the mussels 
obtained from the 3 trials being counted together. Dead 
shells obtained were not recorded. 

The use of the dredge has already been indicated to some 
extent. Mature mussels caught in it were included among 
those obtained as previously described. The residue of the net 
was then examined. After the gravel and larger biological 
specimens which could be easily seen were removed by hand, 
the remainder was then screened in the water through sieves 
of varying fineness, until the juvenile mussels which were 
especially sought could be picked out by hand. Juveniles were 
also obtained from masses of water weed pulled up by the 
crowfoot bars and the dredge. The larger number of them 



Report on the study and appraisal, etc. 9 

were obtained from the water weed, to which they were at- 
tached by their byssus thread. The dredge had the disadvan- 
tage of being apt to foul on some obstruction, and was be- 
sides very unwieldy, being apt to hinder the progress of the 
work. Juveniles taken were at once preserved in a mixture 
of 4 per cent formalin, 70 per cent alcohol and shell dust, the 
latter substance preventing erosion of the shell by the other 
chemicals. They were labelled, counted, and shipped to the 
Fairport Biological Station. The number obtained at each 
locality is expressed in parenthesis after the number of ma- 
ture mussels obtained there ; upon the sum of the two at any 
locality all calculations are made. Other biological specimens 
were at early opportunity shipped to the various specialists 
for identification, and the results of their work, which is here- 
by gratefully acknowledged, is comprised in the notes on the 
various areas. 

(c). Determination of localities. 

The course of the river was followed by means of a set of 
maps of the river published by the Mississippi River Com- 
mission, and by a copy of the current edition of the light list 
for the 13th Lighthouse District as in use by navigators on 
the river. The position of each locality surveyed is indicated 
on the maps used, which are now in possession of the U. S. 
Biological Station, Fairport, Iowa. On these maps, the lo- 
calities are numbered according to area, and to the order in 
which they were examined. Thus 1-3 on the map indicates 
Area 1 and the third locality in it. Reference to the data to 
follow are to be similarly understood. As previously indi- 
cated, only the three best localities in each Area are reported 
upon. 

It was not found practicable to draw into the maps these 
localities on an exact scale. The markings largely indicate 
the relative position of the locality with regard to the 
shore line at the time, the more absolute one being obtained 
by reference to the descriptive material given in connection 
with the markings on the maps. The more absolute data con- 
cerning the position of the locality was obtained by reference 
to some object or formation along the shore which seemed of 
a fairly permanent nature, such as the Government Lights or 



10 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

Day Marks or other improvements along the river, ravines, 
elevation of adjacent hills, clumps of bushes, trestles, etc. 
The first 2 types of reference points were not used when any- 
thing better could be observed. The light list referred to 
gives the distances of these markers and lights from more 
accurately defined points such as bridges, etc. As data furnish- 
ed by local clammers was sometimes found to be misleading, 
positions of productive shell beds were frequently determined 
by a trial drag with a single bar at varying distances from 
the shore, when, after encouraging results, the three con- 
secutive drags with both bars were attempted. All beds of 
shells of fair extent which the party encountered are also 
indicated upon the maps mentioned. 

Once the reference point was established, the distance 
across the water of the starting point of the drag from this 
was estimated independently by the three members of the 
party. The average taken of these distances is that one given 
in the descriptive material of the localities, and in case of 
great varieties in estimate, the more probable distance was 
verified by measurement of other points on the map within 
sight, and by the making of comparisons. A map case of the 
type used in the U. S. Army, provided with compass and 
transparent waterproof cover was found to be a convenient 
carrier for the maps in the field, where the localities could 
be promptly indicated. A leather-bound notebook of the type 
used by engineers was found to be serviceably adaptable for 
the recording of data. It should be borne in mind, however, 
that as the larger portion of the work was accomplished under 
conditions of high water, it was difficult to accurately estimate 
the position of the normal shore line, and the distances given 
are those of the position of the outfit from the nearest land 
above water at the time. 

V. LIST OF SPECIES COLLECTED. 
The following list embraces those species of mussels col- 
lected within the areas surveyed. Besides indicating the 
common name by which the mussels are known to clammers, 
the older scientific names of Simpson's Descriptive Catalogue 
of the Naiades are given, and their equivalent in the forth- 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



11 



coming Pilsbry-Ortman-Walker nomenclature, which follows 
more closely the rules of modern zoological nomenclature. 



COMMON NAME 



SCIENTIFIC NAME 



Commercial Species 

Niggerhead 

Niggerhead 

Hickory Nut 

Pimple Back 

Maple Leaf 

Monkey Face 

Purple Pimple Back 

Three Horn Warty Back, 

Pig Toe 

Blue-Point , 

Three-Ridge 

Wash Board 

Buck Horn 

Mucket 

Higgin's Eye 

Lake Pepin Mucbet 

Butterfly 

Deer Toe 

Pocket Book 

Yellow Sand Shell 

Slough Sand Shell 

Black Sand Shell 

Bull Head 

(No Common Name) ... 

White Hell Splitter 

Fluted Shell 

Pink Heel Splitter 

Rock Pocket Book 

Elephant Ear 

Spike 

Ohio River Pig Toe ( ?) . . 

Elk Toe . . • 

Sugar Spoon 



After Simpson 



Quadrula ebenus 

Quadrula solida 

Obovaria ellipsis 

Quadrula pustulosa 
Quadrula lachrymosa . . . 
Quadrula metanevra. . . . 
Quadrula tuberculata . . 

Obliquaria reflexa 

Quadrula undata 

Quadrula plicata 

Quadrula undulata 

Quadrula heros 

Tritogonia tuberculata . 
Lampsilis ligamentina . 

Lampsilis higginsii 

Lampsilis luteola 

Plagiola securis 

Plagiola elegans 

Lampsilis ventricosa . . 
Lampsilis anodontoides 
Lampsilis fallaciosa . . . 

Lampsilis recta 

Pleurobema aesopus . . . 
Lampsilis subrostrata . . 
Symphynota complanata 
Symphynota costata . . . 

Lampsilis alata 

Arcidens confragosus . . 

Unio crassidens 

Unio gibbosus 

Pleurobema pyramidatus 
Alasmidonta marginata 
Plagiola «i donacif ormis . 



After Ortmann 



Fusconaja ebena (Lea.) 
Pleurobema catillus ( Con. ) 
Obovaria olivaria (Raf.) 
Quadrulu pustulosa ( Lea. ) 
Quadrula quadrula (Raf.) 
Quadrula metanevra (Raf.) 
Rotundaria granifera (Lea.) 
Obliquaria reflexa (Raf.) 
Fusconaja undata (Barnes.) 
Amblema peruviana (Lam.) 
Amblema costata ( Raf. ) 
Megalonais heros (Say.) 
Quadrula verrucosa (Raf.) 
Actinonais carinata (Barnes.) 
Lampsilis higginsii (Lea.) 
Lampsilis siliquoidea (Barnes.) 
Plagiola lineolata (Raf.) 
Amygdalonais truncata (Raf.) 
Lampsilis ventricosa (Barnes.) 
Lampsilis anodontoides (Lea.) 
Lampsilis fallaciosa (Smith.) 
Eurynia recta (Lam.) 
Plethobasus cyphyus (Raf.) 
Eurynia subrostrata (Say.) 
Lasmigona complanata (Barnes.) 
Lasmigona costata (Raf.) 
Prostera alata (Say.) 
Arcidens confragosus (Say.) 
Elliptio niger (Raf.) 
Elliptio dilatatus (Raf.) 
Pleurobema pyramidatum (Lam.) 
Alasmidonta marginata (Say.) 
Amygdalonaias donacif ormis (Lea.) 





NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 


Slop Bucket 


Anodonta imbecillis . . . 
Strophitus edentulus . . . 
Lampsilis gracilis .... 
Lampsilis laevissima . . . 

Truncilla triquetra .... 


Anodonta gnandis (Say.) 










Snuff Box ... 

Floater 


Leptodea fragilis (Raf.) 
Proptera laevissima (Lea.) 
Carunculina parva (Barnes.) 
Truncilla triquetra (Raf.) 



VI. RESULTS. 
These include data compiled upon the absolute and relative 
abundance of each species of mussel found in the areas ap- 
praised, together with such geographical or other information 
likely to be of use in expediting the rechecking of these results 
after a period of protection, or which might have a bearing 
upon propagation experiments. The number of shells of 
each species collected in each locality is given under the head- 
ing of the latter, and the percentage of this in the total catch 
in the locality is indicated. The average of the three percen- 
tages thus obtained for each species in each area is taken to 



12 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

represent the relative abundance of that species in the area. 
An asterisk, (*), indicates that the species was found to be 
less than 1 per cent in the area and locality involved. A 
blank space opposite the name of a species indicates that 
living shells were not collected in either the area or the lo- 
calities of it. 

AREA I. 

Boundaries ; lower half of Diamond Island, Miss. R. to Red 
Wing, Minn., at High Bridge. Status, subject to fishery. 
Length in Linear Miles, 4.2. Physical Conditions, estimated 
7-8 ft. high water. Current about 5 miles per hour. Bottom 
mostly gravel and sand. Middle sections of area infested 
with snags. 

LOCALITIES REPORTED UPON. (ref. maps.) 
I — 1. Starting point of drags Govt. Day Mark 958-n near 

center of Diamond Island, 25 ft. from shore on Minnesota 

side of channel. July 7, 1920. 

I — 2. Starting point of drags Govt. Day Mark 958-k, 

(above island 23), Wisconsin side of channel, 30 ft. from 

shore, about y% mile down stream from preceding locality. 
I — 6. Starting point of drags, 300 ft. upstream from 

Govt. Day Mark 958-g across the mouth of slough about 1 

mile above Red Wing on Minnesota side, 50 f«t. from mouth 

of slough. July 9, 1920. 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



13 



NOTES ON AREA. 

Certain species, as E. dilatatUs, B. granifera, are at present 

AREA I. 



COMMERCIAL SPECIES 



t> 



<ai? 



£ o 
o J 



e2 J 






> S 



Fusconaja ebena 

Pleurobema catillus 

Obovaria olivaria 

Quadrula postulosa 

Quadrula quadrula 

Quadrula metanevra 

Rotundaria granifera 

Obliquaria reflexa , 

Fusconaja undata 

Amblema peruviana 

Amblema costata - 

Megalonais heros 

Quadrula verrucosa - 

Actinonais carinata 

Lampsilis higgirtsii 

Lampsilis siliquoidea 

Plagiola Iineolata 

Amygdalonais truncanta. . . . 

Lampsilis ventrieosa 

Lampsilis anodontoides 

Lampsilis fallaciosa 

Eurynia recta 

Eurynia subrostrata 

Plethobasus cypbyus 

Lasmigona complanata 

Lasmigona costata 

Proptera alata 

Arcidens confragosus .... 

Elliptio niger 

Elliptio dilatatus 

Pleurobema pyramidatum 
Alasmidonta marginata . . . 
Amygdalonais donaciformis 



7 

3 

133 

23 



10 

7 
11 



IS 



17 
51 



1.5% 



30% 

5% 



1.5%| 



1 

3 

141 

7 
6 

7 



2.2% 
1.5% 
2.4% 



2.2% 

2% 

5.9% 



4% 



3.8% 
11.9% 



3 

46 

1 

6 

1 
5 

44 



34% | 

* I 

1.4% 

1-7%) 



3.4% 



11.2% 
* 

1.4% 



1.2% 
10.9% 



29 
3 

4 



1.9% 



1.5% 



4.7% 
12!5% 



11.2% 
2.1% 



21.9% 
2.5% 



1.66% 



2%; 



i'7< 



5.2% 

* 
1.5% 



3.9% 



3.4% 



1.4% 



1.5% 



1% 
1.6% 



7.3% 

5.9% 

* 

1.6% 

11% 

• 

* 

1.9% 



1.4% 



1% 



TOTALS 



:-:<i: 



8. 66% | 336 



73 .7% | 94 



33. 9% | 63% 



NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 









48 

69 

5 

4 

34 


19% 1 6.3% 




1 

12 
11 
17 


* 
2.7% 

3.8% 

4% 


12 1 2.9% 
35 I 8.5% 


29% 1 10.6% 




1.9%| 4.3% 




* • 


15 | 3.6% 


13. 6% 1 7% 




17 


* 














1 







TOTALS 



■ I 47 | 10.5%| 



15.6%| 161 | 65.4%| 28.2% 



TOTAL S ALL SHEL LS [ 442 | 97 . 1% |408| 89.3%| 255 [ 99.3%[ 91.2% 



clammed out of this area. Two large piles of these shells, 
said to have come from this region were observed in Lake 
Pepin. Indications are that this area constitutes a metropolis 



14 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

for 0. olivaria, although the largest shells of this species were 
obtained at Wabasha. A. corpulenta of the river at this 
point seems to be much thicker than the same species as ob- 
tained from the, sloughs. Locality 1-2 is known to old time 
clammers as the Trenton Bed. While still fairly productive, 
no clammers were observed working it at this time. Juveniles 
were comparatively rare in this area. 

AREA II. 

Boundaries, Red Wing, Minn., to Bay City, Wis. Status, 
closed to fishery. Length in Linear Miles, 5.8. Physical 
Conditions, 7 ft. high water; current about 3 miles per hour; 
bottom mostly sand and mud; snags most abundant toward 
the Wisconsin shore. Water weed in lower stretches. 

LOCALITIES REPORTED UPON. (ref. maps.) 

II — 1. Starting point of drags 300 ft. upstream off Wis- 
consin shore from Govt. Day Mark 958-e, on edge of main 
channel about 40 ft. from shore. July 10, 1920. 

II — 2. Starting point of drags 35 ft. from shore, about 
V4 mile downstream from Govt. Day Mark 958-d, opposite 
bathing houses and summer camp on Minn, shore. July 10, 
1920. 

II — 4. Starting point of drag's 100 ft. downstream from 
Govt. Day Mark 958-b, 45 ft. from Minnesota shore. 



NOTES ON AREA. 

Collecting in this area was best on the edge of the channel. 
It was extensively clammed some years ago. At present, 
there appear to be fewer shells of the Quadrula group, than 
others. Truncilla triquetra was first recorded frou: the 
upper region of the river at this point. Juveniles, especially 
of Anodonta and Lampsilis sp. are more abundant here than 
in the preceding area. 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



15 



AREA II. 



TOTALS. 



134 | 47.5%| 149 



COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 


1 
3 


% Total Catch 
in Locality 


1 
Locality II 2 

i 


J 

C 


C3 

o 
o 


J 
Eh 

#5 


Average % Catch 
in 3 Localities 




1 


* 


47 
7 
7 
3 


* 

1% 

23.5% 

3.5% 

3.5% 

1.5% 


1 

5 

32(4) 

8 

3 

2 


* 

1.6% 

11.8% 

2% 

1% 


* 
1% 








12% 








1.8% 








1.5% 








* 
















8 
2 


4% 
* 






1.3% 








19 


6.2% 


2.6% 












1 


* 






27 


8.9% 


i.1% 








* 












4 
20 


1.3% 
6.6% 


* 








1 


* 


2.3% 












18 


6.6% 


9 


4.5% 


13 
1 


4.2% 
* 


5.1% 




* 








3 

54 
2 


1.5% 

27% 

1% 


* 




49(5) 


19.9% 


6 


1.9% 


16% 




* 











* 


Eurynia recta , . . 


KD 


* 


1 


* 


13 


4.2% 


1.7% 
















Lasmigona complanata 


.!.. . 






4 


1.3% 


* 










56(1) 


21% 




2 


1% 


24 
6 


7.9% 
1.9% 


9.9% 




* 

























2 


* 


* 








































1 


* 


* 



72% | 195 | 60.8%| 58.9% 



NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 



Anodonta grandis 


1 20 

R?,(2\ 


11.9% 
12.4% 


17 

17 


8.5% 

8.5% 


15 
16 
13 
8 
15 
36 


5.1% 

5.1% 

4.3% 

2% 

5% 

11.9% 


8.5% 
8.6% 




1.4% 










* 




2r,(l) 


28% 


14 


7% 


13% 
3.9% 














....| 2 


* 







1 


* 


* 



TOTALS 1 133 [52.3%| 48 



24% 1 104 | 33 .4% | 35.4% 



TOTALS ALL SHELLS. 



267 | 99 .9%| 197 



96% | 299 | 94 .2%| 89.2% 



AREA III. 

Bounderies, Bay City, Wis. to Maiden Rock, Wis., and 
Frontenac, Minn. Status, subject to fishery. Length in 
Linear Miles, 5.7. Physical Conditions, 7 ft. high water; 
current about 2 miles; bottom, gravel, mud, and some sand. 
Comparatively free from snags. Water weeds fairly common 
in upper stretches of area. 



16 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

LOCALITIES REPORTED UPON. (ref. maps.) 
Ill — 1. Lake Pepin, starting point of drags 1,500 ft. to- 
wards point with Light 957 from Wacouta Point, Minn., 100 
ft. from shore, starting at a clump of low willows. July 14, 
1920.. 

Ill — 4. About 2 miles below Bay City on Wisconsin shore, 
starting at a clump of willows and poplars at lower end of 
promontory with an altitude of 680. Drags 75 ft. off shore 
July 15, 1920. 

Ill — 8. Drags from Point No-Point to Frontenac Point 
in a straight line between them, starting 300 ft. from shore 
of first, and finishing 75 ft. from shore of second. July 16, 
1920. 

NOTES ON AREA. 

In this section of Lake Pepin there exist clam beds known 
from their adjacent regions as the Maiden Rock and Warren- 
ton Beds. After poor success here, we learned from clam- 
mers, that while this was ordinarily a good locality, it was at 
this time covered with 6 in. of decaying vegetable matter 
brought in by the unusual rains of the summer, and this pre- 
vented the hooks from taking hold. Juveniles were somewhat 
less abundant than in the preceding area. 

During the entire period of our collecting in Lake Pepin, 
and less noticeably so in the lower stretches of the river, there 
was observed on the surface of the lake, masses of algal 
plankton occurring in the form of dots, short rods and ten- 
drils. Messrs. H. W. Clark and R. S. Corwin of the Fairport 
Biological Station state additionally concerning it, "the alga 
is practically all Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. It is predomin- 
ant in the plankton algae of the Upper Mississippi. It is 
abundant in Lake Pokegama also. There were one or two 
colonies of Anabaena spiroides and one Difflugia cratera in 
the mass examined." 

The abundance of such plant food in Lake Pokegama and 
Lake Pepin may account in some degree for the abundance 
and excellent quality of the fat muckets found in those Lakes. 
Fresh water sponge was abundant on the Minnesota side of 
the lake. 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



17 





AREA III. 










COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 


>> 

5 

o 
o 


.c 
u 

"3 fe 

Us 
3 


>> 

"3 




% Total Catch 
in Locality 


00 

>> 

B 

8 


% Total Catch 
in Locality 


Average % Catch 
in 3 Localities 




















































3 


3.5% 


5 
2 


6.5% 

2.6% 






3.3% 
* 






































2 
5 


2.4% 
5.9% 


i 

8 
3(1) 
8(1) 

4 


1.3% 
10.4% 

5.2% 
11.7% 

5.2% 


5 

14 

11 

3 


5.3% 
14.9% 
11.7% 

3.2% 


3% 




10.4% 
5.9% 
8.1% 
1.7%' 




8 


9.5% 




















2 
1 
5 


2.6% 
1.3% 
6.5% 






* 












a 




32(1) 


39.2% 


33(4) 


39.5% 


28.4% 
























3 


3.5% 


4 


5.2% 


1 


1% 


3.2% 
























1 


1.2% 


1 


1.3% 






1% 
































2 


2.6% 


1 


1% 


1.2% 




1 

5 


1.2% 
5.9% 


* 




13 


16.9% 


10 


10.7% 


11.2% 












1 

5 


1.3% 
6.5% 






* 




8 


9.5% 


1 


1% 


7.3% 





































TOTALS > 


70 


83% 


1 67 


86.8% 


83 


83.3% 


84.7% 


NO* 


I-COMM 

9 
2 

2 


ERCIA 


L SPEC 


IES* 

~276% 
7.8% 










10.5% 
2.4% 
2.4% 


2 
6 






4.4% 


Anodonta corpulenta 


5 
(1) 


5.3% 

1% 


5.2% 
1.2% 
















2 


2.6% 


2 


2.1% 


1.6% 












1 i 



1.2% 


















1 







TOTALS 


14 


16.5% 


1 10 


13% 


1 io 


10.5% 


13.5% 


TOTALS ALL SHELLS 


89 


16.5% 


77 


100% 


| 93 


98.8% 


98.2% 



18 - THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



AREA IV. 

Boundaries, Maiden Rock, Wis., and Frontenac, Minn, to 
Lake City, Minn, and Stockholm, Wis. Status, closed to fish- 
ery. Length in Linear Miles, 6.7. Physical Conditions, 5 ft. 
high water ; bottom varying from pebbles, to sand and mud ; 
current Wfa to 2 miles per hour. Patches of water weed 
abundant. 

LOCALITIES REPORTED UPON. (ref. maps.) 
IV- — 9. Opposite Mrs. Coles estate, starting at point be- 
tween brown barn and white house at 700 ft. elevation, 65 ft. 
from shore, proceeding toward bend. July 19, 1920. 

IV — 11. Along Lake City Park front, starting at a poplar 
tree in front of fishermen's shanty, proceeding downstream 
toward bend in stone wall. 250 ft. off shore. July 20, 1920. 

IV — 12. At Lake City, between Lake City Point Light and 
breakwater, starting 40 ft. off shore, from center of space 
between small house and ice-house. July 20, 1920. 

NOTES ON AREA. 
Clammers believe this area to be pretty well clammed out, 
although it contained more juvenile shells than previously en- 
countered in other areas. This fact seems reasonably due to 
the propagation experiments which the Bureau of Fisheries 
has been conducting in the region for several years. This 
area really produces the larger number of juveniles than any, 
other considered, but as adult shells from these localities are 
in the great minority, the juveniles are not represented in 
the check localities given. All data submitted for juveniles 
is from the standpoint of their frequency in clam beds, where- 
as below Lake Pepin they were found to be most abundant on 
the sand bars. The juveniles were mostly L. siliquoidea. The 
water weeds encountered were Vallisneria spiralis, Cerato- 
phyllum demersum, and various species of Potamogeton. The 
party gained the impression that the abundance of juveniles 
in an area, was related to the abundance of the water weed. 
Species of fresh water snails, and a crayfish collected were 
determined by Dr. A. E. Ortmann to be Campeloma subsoil- 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



19 



dum (Anthony) species of Goniobasis and Pleurocera, while 
the crayfish was Cambarus (Faxonus) virilis, Hagen. 

AREA IV. 



COMMERCIAL *SPECIES 




o 


o2 


Uj£ - 


6=. o 







US 


to 


oJ 


s~ 


. a 


> c 


£~ 


<'~ 



1 

88(1) 



Fusconaja ebena 

Pleurobema eatillus . . 

Obovaria olivaria 

Quadrula pustulosa 

Quadrula quadrula 

Quadrula metanevra , 

Rotundaria granifera 

Obliquaria reflexa 

Fusconaja undata 

Amblema peruviana 

Amblema costata , 

Megalonais heros 

Quadrula verrucosa 

Actinonais carinata 

Larnpsilis higginsii 

Lampsilis silin,uoidea 

Plagiola lineolata 

Amygdalonais truncata 

Lampsilis ventricosa 

Lampsilis anodontoides 

Lampsilis fallaciosa 

Eurynia recta 

Eurynia subrostrata 

Plethobasus cyphyus 

Lasmigona complanata 

Lasmigona castata 

Proptera alata 

Arcidens conf ragosus I 

Elliptio niger 

Elliptio dilatatus | 3 

Pleurobema pyramidatum I 

Alasmidonta marginata 

Amygdalonais donaciformis 1(3) 



11 



1.39! 

14.4% 
16.2% 



40% 



1.3% 
2.2% 



1.8% 



(1) 
3 
1 

1 



1 

(1) 

12 



1-8% | 



1.2% 



24.5% 
7.3% 



37% 



1% 

7.3% 



1% 



5.1% 



1 
19 

27 



102(5) 



2.6% 16 



1.9% 



8% 
11.6% 



1% 



46.4% 

'8.'i%j 

'i!7% 



1.2% 
"*3% 



6.9% 
~L2% 



15.6% 
11.7% 



41.1% 

* 
5.8% 

* 
1.5% 

'"'i% 

* 
4.3% 

"s.h% 

"i% 



TOTALS 1 195 | 85.2%| 216 



87% | 211 



90% | 86.6% 



NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 



Anodonta grandis. . . . 
Anodonta corpulenta . 
Anodonta imbecillis. . 
Strophitus edentulus. . 

I.eptodea fragilis 

Proptera laevissima. . 
Carunculina parua . . 
TrunciUa triouetra. . . 



3.6% 

5.8%. 
1.8% 



5 
(1) 
6 
1 
2 
1 
1 



2.1% 
* 

2.6% 
1% 



9 

(6) 

3(1) 



1 



3.8% 
2.6% 

1.7% 



3.2% 

2.8% 

2% 



TOTALS. 



26 | 11.2%| 17 | 5.9%H 22 j 



8% I 



S^r 



TOTALS ALL SHELLS J 221 | 96.4%| 233 | 92.7% I 233 | 98%_ 



94.6% 



AREA V. 

Boundaries, Lake City, Minn, and Stockholm, Wis. to Pepin, 
Wis. Status, subject to fishery. Length in Linear Mile, 5.3. 
Physical Conditions, 5 ft. hi"h water during survey; current 
two miles per hour ; bottom mud and sand with a few pebbles ; 
occasional patches of water weed. 



20 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

LOCALITIES REPORTED UPON. (ref. maps.) 

V — 5. Off Lake City shore near hospital, starting opposite 
first tree on bank north of hospital, 120 ft. from shore. July 
23, 1920. 

V — 6. Below Camp Grounds, (southeast of, Lake City), 
starting at point adjacent to 900 elevation, (Asplund's farm) , 
at distance 15 ft. from shore. July 24, 1920. Minnesota 
shore. 

V — 10. About 1V4 miles from Deer Lake, (Wisconsin 
shore), and 14 m ^ e from pier at Pepin, starting point at 
nearest house on Wisconsin shore with 2 outbuildings in the 
rear. 600 ft. off shore. 

NOTES ON AREA. 

Compared with adults, juveniles were more abundant here 
than in any other area. This area was the one most worked 
in Lake Pepin during the summer of 1920, and some valuable 
pearls had their origin here. While fresh water sponges had 
been encountered from the beginning of the trip, such were 
more abundant in Lake Pepin than elsewhere. Specimens 
collected and forwarded to Professor Frank Smith, University 
of Illinois, were identified as Spongilla fragilis, Loidy. 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



21 



AREA V. 



COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 



1 



4 

40(0) 
30(4) 



Fusconaja ebena 

Pleurobema catillus 

Obovaria olivaria 

Quadrula postulosa 

Quadrula quadrula 

Quadrula inetanevra 

Rotundaria gran if era 

Obliquaria reflexa 

Fusconaja undata 

Amblema peruviana 

Amblema costata 

Megalonais heros 

Quadrula verrucosa. 

Actinonais carinata , 

Lampsilis higginsii 

Lampsilis siliquoidea 

Plagiola lineolata 

Amygdalonais truncata 

Lampsilis ventricosa \ 20 (3) 

Lampsilis anodontoides I 

Lampsilis fallaciosa \ 3 

Eurynia recta j 1 

Eurynia subrostrata I 

Plethobasus cyphyus I 

Lasmigona complanata ( 5 

Lasmigona costata i 

Proptera alata 5 

Arcidens confragosus 

Elliptio niger 

Elliptio dilatatus \ 18 

Pleurobema pyramidatum J 

Alasmidonta marginata | 

Amygdalorais donaciformis \ 3 



1->X 
a! 

"3 8 



"J 
E-i 



1.4% 

17% 

11.9% 



3.7% 



7 
73(2) 
2(4) 
59 



1.7% 

18.7% 

1.5% 

14.7% 



u£ 






^.- 



1 
55(3) 
21 



2.4% 



23.2% 
8.4% 



104(20)| 43.4%|108(13)| 30.2% 69(4) 



8% 



1% 



1.7% 



6 
44(6) 



1.5% 
10.7% 



2% 



2 
45(5) 
1 

1 
2 



2.7%| 



29% 



18% 



4% 



| 6.3%| 20 | 5%| 10(1) | 4.4%| 



1% 



NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 



a 
Si, J 






1% 

19.6% 

7.3% 

4.9% 



34.2% 



1% 
12.3% 



1.5% 

* 
1% 

"t. '.8% 
'5.'2% 



TOTA L S \ 272 | 93.4%| 38 6 j92.4%| ,241 |89.4%| 89.8% 





1 














1 5 

1 
1 4 


1.7% 
1.4% 


4 
1 
6 


1% 

* 

1.5% 


2 


* 

* 


1.2% 

* 

1% 


3 




1.2% 










































TOTALS. 



;o 



3.1% 



2.5%| 



1.2%| 2.2% 



TOTALS ALL SHELLS. 



282 | 96. 5% | 



94 . 9%| 247 | 90.6% | 



92% 



AREA VI. 

Boundaries, Pepin and King's Coulee to Read's Landing, 
Minn. Status, closed to fisheries. Length in linear Miles, 4. 
Physical conditions, 4 ft. high water; current about 2 miles. 
Bottom, mud and sand, with a great deal of water weed on 
the Wisconsin side. Cobbles, gravel, and riff-raff on the 
Minnesota shore. 



22 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

LOCALITIES REPORTED UPON. (ref. maps.) 

VI — 3. Starting point, 700 ft. north of point marked 
682.09 and 673.42 on map, at foot of Lake Pepin, 500 ft. off 
shore. July 27, 1920. 

VI— 5. Starting point 1,000 ft. southwest C. M. & St. P. 
R. R. trestle at culvert opposite Knud Johnston's Coulee, 
(1760 elevation), 150 ft. from shore. July 28, 1920. 

VI — 6. One mile upstream from bridge at Read's Landing, 
300 ft. s. w. of C. M. & St. P. R. R. at base of stone quarry, 
700 ft. from Minnesota shore. July 28, 1920. 

NOTES ON AREA. 

Next to Area V, the juveniles found were most abundant 
here. Locality 6 in this area represents a re-juvenating bed 
at the base of Lake Pepin, clammed out years ago, and at 
that time producing many niggerheads. The only living 
specimen of R. granifera taken in the lake was secured at 
this place, although previously large numbers of dead shells 
were seen. At this point there was collected for the* first 
time, Pleuroberfia Poyramidatum. Both localities 5 and 6 had 
comparatively few old shells in them. Locality 3 is shunned 
by clammers on account of the rocky bottom at this place, yet 
certain clammers who know the region are able to make good 
hauls here. Juveniles were fairly abundant. Specimens of 
Plagiola lineolata were particularly large. Fresh water 
sponges, and Bryozoa of species to be later given were also 
obtained here. 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



23 



AREA VI. 



COMMERCIAL SPECIES 



Fusconaja ebena 

Pleurobema catillus 

Obovaria olivaria 

Quadrula postulosa 

Quadrula quadrula , 

Quadrula metanevra 

Rotundaria granifera 

Obliquaria reflexa 

Fusconaja undata 

Amblema peruviana 

Amblema costata 

Megalonais heros 

Quadrula verrucosa 

Actinonais carinata 

Lampsilis higginsii 

Lampsilis siliquoidea 

Plagiola lineolata 

Amygdalonais truncata 

Lampsilis ventricosa 

Lampsilis anodontoides 

Lampsilis fallaciosa 

Eurynia recta 

Eurynia subrostrata 

Plethobasus cyphyus 

Lasmigona complanata 

Lasmigona costata 

Proptera alata 

Arcidens confragosus 

Elliptio niger 

Elliptio dilatatus 

Pleurobema pyramidatum . . . 

Alasmidonta marginata 

Amygdalonais donaciformis. 



■5 J 



3° 

Eh 






2% 



6(1) 
5(2) 



33(4) 



53(5) 



4% I 
4.8% 



25.5% 92(9) 
3 
5(3) 
26(5) 



40% 



5.5% 



2.9% 



2.7% 



2 
138 
51(1) 



21 



28. 9% | 
10.9% 



16 

7(1) 

13 

5 



M.2% 



1.6% 
6.5% 



1.8% 



4.4% 



15.5% 



22 
66 



3.6% 
1.8%| 
2.9% 
1.1% 



53(3) 



16(3) 
31(6) 



5.2% 

1.8% 

5% | 
15% 



12.8% 

2% 

4.3% 

8.5% 



4.8% 



17.2% 






> £ 



1.2% 
1% 



2% 

* 

1% 
12.6% 
10.3% 



19.8% 

1% 

1.9% 

18.3% 



3.2% 

* 
"l2% 



TOTALS 1 132 | 90.6%) 449 | 90.8%| 391 



86% | 88.6% 



NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 





















6 

(1) 

1 

1(1) 


4.1% 
* 
* 
* 1.3% 






7 


5.6% 


3 . 2%. 




10 


2.1% 


1% 
* 




5 
21(1) 


i.i% 

5% 




5(2) 


1.4% 


2.6% 






























1 







TOTALS 


...| 10 


1 5.4%| 


17 | 3.5%| 


?4 


1 n.7%| 


6.7% 


TOTALS ALL SHELLS 


.. | 142 


1 96% | 


466 | 94. 3% | 


425 


I 97.7%| 


95.3% 



AREA VII. 

Boundaries, Read's Landing, Minn., to Minneiska, Minn. 
Status, open to fishery. Length in Linear Miles, 20.9. Physi- 
cal conditions, 5 ft. high water; current 4-6 miles per hour. 
Bottom, sandy, with many imbedded snags, especially in upper 
portion. 



24 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

LOCALITIES REPORTED UPON. (ref. maps.) 

VII — 4. 320 ft. upstream from Government Light 946, 
along water front at Wabasha, 49 ft. from shore. July 31, 
1920. 

VII — 6. Teepeeota Point, 350 ft. west of willows at the 
point, 150 ft. from shore line. July 31, 1920. 

VII— 14. (5ff Alma, Wis., starting 50 ft. north of R. E. 
Jones' Mill, 40 ft. from shore. August 3, 1920. 

NOTES ON AREA. 

Few juveniles were to be seen in this area. On the site 
of an old shipyard at Wabasha, remnants of a clam bed with 
some young shells were found. The bed is hindered in re- 
generation by the amount of rubbish, iron wire, etc., dumped 
in the locality. The same conditions hold for locality VII-4. 
Further down at Teepeeota point was a remnant, composed 
of gigantic shells of an old clam bed, in which juveniles were 
totally absent. The bottom in this locality seemed well suited 
to mussel growth, there being no rubbish, few if any snags. 
The current has probably carried away the juveniles. Much 
effort was expended in this and other areas to locate clam 
beds by the method already described, but most of the pro- 
ductive ones have been covered up. There are few if any 
water weeds in this area except in the sloughs. 

In the vicinity of Alma, (Govt. Light 926 and the R. E. 
Jones Mill), other remnants of beds exist, composed of giant 
"niggerheads" and "warty backs." Only a slight idea could 
be gained of these latter, as the bottom was so snaggy that 
it was unprofitable to attempt work with the crowfoot bars. 
Formerly this bed was worked with a pitch fork. At the 
lower limits of this area shells were more abundant, and were 
more easily secured from sand bars than any place elst The 
upper portion of West Newton Chute was very prolific in this 
respect. Species of snails and crayfish as recorded previously 
were common here. 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



25 



AREA VII. 



COMMERCIAL SPECIES 



^5 





.a 










> 














nj gS 








o o 


a 


HhJ 


a 




o 
►J 


£5 



tf£ 









Fusconaja ebena 

Pleurobema catillus 

Obovaria olivaria 

Quadrula postulosa 

Quadrula quadrula 

Quadrula metaiievra , 

Rotundaria granifera 

Obliquaria reflexa 

Fusconaja undata 

Amblema peruviana 

Amblema costata 

Megalonais heros , 

Quadrula verrucosa 

Actinonais carinata 

Lampsilis higginsii 

Lampsilis silinuoidea 

Plagiola lineolata 

Amygdalonais truncata 

Lampsilis ventricosa 

Lampsilis anodontoides 

Lampsilis fallaciosa 

Eurynia recta 

Eurynia subrostrata 

Plethobasus cyphyus 

Lasmigona complanata 

Lasmigona costata 

Proptera alata 

Arcidens confragosus 

Elliptio niger 

Elliptio dilatatus 

Pleurobema pyramidatum . . . 

Alasmidonta marginata 

Amygdalonais donaciformis . 



10 



7 
1 

20 



17 



5 
33 



6.3% 



4.4% 
* 

12.6% 



6.9% 



10.7% 



3.1% 

20%, 



2 | 1.2% 



8.8% 



1.2% 



5% 



1.2%. 



3 
1 
1 

46 
1 



2.1% 
5.6% 
4.9% 



2%, 

4.9%, 

10.6%, 

2%, 



4.2% 



2.1% 



32.6% 



5.6% 



2.8%, 
'<L3% 



4.9% 



7%, 

3.8%, 

15.4<7,. 

19.8%. 



26.9%. 



3.8% 
3.8%- 
3.8%, 



3.8%, 



7.7%, 



2.3%, 

4.3%, 

7%, 

9.7%, 

* 

13.2%, 

i.9%, 

5.2%, 
4.8%, 
4.2%, 

"9.1% 

6.6%, 



3.8%,| 15.1%, 



8.3%, 

'2^5% 

* 

<L3% 

4A% 



TOTALS. 



153 



94%,| 133 I 90.6%,[ 26 | 99.2%,] 96.5%, 



NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 



Anodonta grandis .... 
Anodonta corpulenta . 
Anodonta imbecillis. . 
Strophitus edentulus. 
Leptodea fragilis. . . . , 
Proptera laevissima. . 
Carunculina parua . . 
TrunciUa triquetra. . . 



1.2%. 
1 .2% 



2.1% 
2.8%, 



1%, 

1%, 

1.3%, 



TOTALS. 



5 



2.4% 



4.9%| 



3.3%, 



TOTALS ALL SHELLS. 



158 I 96.4%-! 141 I 95.5%| 26 | 99.2%,| 99.8%, 



AREA VIII. 

Boundaries, Minneiska, Minn, to Fountain City, Wis. 
Status, closed to fishery. Length in Linear Miles, 10.8. 
Physical Conditions, 2 ft. ri^h water; current about 2 miles 
per hour. Bottom, sane 1 , mud, cobbles, mud, riff-raff, and 
infested with snags. 



26 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 

LOCALITIES REPORTED UPON. (ref. maps.) 
VIII— 1. Starting, at Govt. Light 902.35 ft. off shore, 
south of island 4. August 11, 1920. 

VIII — 10. One-half mile around the bend from Govt. 
Light 896,35 ft. off shore, starting point adjacent to coulee 
south of Chimney Rock. August 14, 1920. 

VIII— 19. Straight Slough, 100 ft. south of the north of 
the first large slough leading from it, (at upper end), to the 
C. M. u St. P. R. R. tracks from 655 elevation; on opposite 
shore at distance 20 ft. from banks. August 16, 1920. 

NOTES ON AREA. 

This area stands third in the abundance of juveniles found. 
Remnants of a bed were found along the water front at Min- 
neiska. This is given in locality VIII-1. Locality VIII-10 
represents the old Chimney Rock Bed. Juveniles secured in 
this and succeeding areas were obtained from sand bars 
principally by hand. 

In this area, there were frequently collected upon the sand 
bars crayfish which Dr. A. E. Ortmann of the Carnegie 
Museum, Pittsburgh, Pa., pronounced to be Cambarus (Eaxo- 
hus) virilis Hagen, (males of the second form,) and Cambarus 
blandingii acutus Gerard, (males of the second forms). 

As early as the latter part of July there was noticed a 
brilliant bluish-green scum upon the shore of the sloughs and 
sand bars. Some of the material was sent to Dr. G. T. 
Moore, director of the Missouri Botanical Garden for iden- 
tification. Dr. Moore stated it "was a mixture of 3 blue- 
green algae, the major portion being Clathrocystis serrigensa, 
with occasional colonies of Coelosjrfiaerium kuetzingianum, 
as well as occasional colonies of Anabaena flos-aquae. This 
mixture is a very common one and has been associated for a 
number of years with the phenomemon known abroad as the 
"breaking of the meres." In this country it is generally re- 
ferred to as the "flowering of the waters." 

Dr. C. B. Davenport, of the Carnegie Station for Experi- 
mental Evolution, Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y., identified 
specimens of Bryozoa forwarded him as Pectinatella magni- 
fies. These were collected from Fountain City Bay, Fountain 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



27 



City, Wis. He indicates that the following additional species 
may be expected to occur in the Mississippi also, viz. Urna- 
tella gracilis, Paludieella ehrenbergii, Fredericella sultana, 
Cristatella mocedo and various species of Plumatella. Some 
of these species are known from the Illinois River, and on 
account of the resistance which the statoblasts have to the 
digestive fluids of birds, have become widely distributed over 
the whole country east of the Rocky Mountains. 

AREA VIII. 



TOTALS. 



12 | 85.4% 



NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES 



TOTALS. 



COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 


> 
>> 

"5 

a 

o 

h3 


o 

°£ 

1 "*"§ 

i o 
j HJ 

1 sf-£ 


Locality VIII-10 | 

1 


o 

"8 . 

°£ 

HI 

o o 

1 #£ 


> 
>> 

o 


o 

31 

o c 


Average % Catch 
in 3 Localities 

• 




21.4% 

14.3% 










7.1% 
4.7% 
1.4% 
2.8% 


















3(1) 
1 


4.2% 
1% 






1 


8.3% 








1 


7.1% 










2.3% 




















1 
8 

1 


8.3% 

50% 

8.3% 






2.8% 

2.1% 

11% 

4.7% 








12 
10 


12.6% 
10.5% 




2 

•7 


14.2% 
14.2% 
































7.17c 










2.3% 
























1(10) 


11 5% 


3.8% 


































1 


8.3% 


30(15) 


4.7% 


18.4% 


























1 


7.1% 


1 


8.3% 






5.1% 

* 




1 


1% 




















' 1 


8.3% 






2.7% 























































































































100%| 84 | 87.8% I 90.1% 





















2 


14.2% 






1 


1% 


5% 




















1 

5(3) 

1 


1% 

8.4% 

lfe 


* 












3% 




























'• 













TOTALS ALL SHELLS. 



! 14.2%| 


12 


100% | 


11 


1 n.4%| 


8% 


i 99.6%| 


12 


100% | 


95 


I 99. 2% | 


98.1% 



28 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



AREA IX. 

Boundaries, Fountain City, Wis. to Winona, Minn. (High 
Bridge) . Status, open to fishery. Length Linear Miles, 8.6. 
Physical Conditions, 2 ft. high water; current 4 miles. Bot- 
tom, gravel and mud, with less amount of riff-raff than in 
preceding areas. 

LOCALITIES REPORTED UPON. (ref. maps.) 

IX — 2. South end of Island 62, across the mouth of a 
slough, starting 20 ft. from nearest shore. Aug. 18, 1920. 

IX — 22. Straight Slough, about 3 miles from mouth, 
across the mouth of the first slough above island with 655 
elevation. 25 ft. from north shore. Aug. 21, 1920. 

IX— 31. 800 ft. northwest of the N. W. R. R. bridge at 
Winona, 35 ft. from sheer boom. Aug. 23, 1920. 

NOTES ON AREA. 

*An old bed of "niggerheads" existing at Wild's Landing 
was found to be absolutely covered with sand deflected by the 
dams. No trace of a bed said -to exist in the vicinity of 
Island 55 was found. The best collecting in this area was 
from the sandbars, and in the lower portion of the area we 
frequently encountered very large specimen of Anodonta 
grandis. Many stranded pocketbooks, (Lampsilis ventricosa) 
were found cut open for pearls, presumably by the foreign 
element of the population of Winona. 

Locality IX-22 is in the upper portion of Straight Slough 
near Winona. At the present time it is a flourishing bed, 
indicating that conditions are favorable here for mussel 
growth. Fresh water snails, (Pleurocera acuta, Raf.) and 
a form of Sphaerium stamineum Conrad, as determined by 
Dr. Bryant Walker, were abundant here. 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



29 



AREA IX. 



COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 





x 






u 


(M 


<M 


"3 . 


<N 


X 


X 


t— 1 




►H 




"3g 








■+J 


"3 


HJ 










■S 


££ 






"3 s 







J3 






2 » 








CO 


ts . 








°.& 




>> 


Si 

o 5 


CI. 


oi 


hJ 


3 


#►5 


> c 



Fusconaja ebena 

Pleurobema catillus 

Obovaria olivaria 

Quadrula postulosa 

Quadrula quadrula 

Quadrula metanevra 

Rotundaria granifera 

Obliquaria reflexa 

Fusconaja undata 

Amblema peruviana 

Amblema costata 

Mesalonaio heros 

Quadrula verrucosa 

Actinonais carinata 

Lampsilis higginsii 

Lampsilis siliquoidea 

Plagiola lineolata 

Amygdalonais truncata 

Lampsilis ventricosa 

Lampsilis anodontoides 

Lampsilis fallaciosa 

Eurynia recta. 

Eurynia subrostrata 

Plethobasus cyphyus 

Lasmigona complanata 

Lasmigona costata 

Proptera alata 

Arcidens confragosus 

Elliptio niger. 

Elliptio dilatatus 

Pleurobema pyramidatum . . , 

Alasmidonta marginata 

Amvtrdflonais donaciformis. 



3(5) 



3.5<tf 



3.5% 



10.7% 



28% 



24.5% 



3.5% 



3.5%, 



28.5% 



3.8% 
1.! 



13.3% 



11.4% 
3.8% 



5.7% 
7.6% 



5.7% 
'5.'8% 



1.9% 



4 9 



3.4% 

1% 

6.3% 

3.9% 



23.8% 



12.7% 
1.4% 



1.9% 
3.4% 



2% 

1.4% 

8% 



6.8% 
3. '9% 



3.4% 



1.4% 
1.4% 



13% 

* 

4.5% 
1.9% 

12. 5% 



9.2% 
1.4% 



1% 

"3.'5% 

1% 

2% 

14.6% 

""8% 
4.2% 

"3.'i% 
1% 



1.8% 



1.2% 



TOTALS. 



77 .2% I 46 



87.4%| 180 I 86.1%[ 81.5% 



NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 



















3.5% 

3.5% 

3.5% 

10.7% 






1 




1.5% 
1% 
5% 

6.7% 










1 } 


2 
3 


3.8% 

5.7% 


15 
8 


7.4% 
3.9% 









































TOTALS 


. 1 6 


1 21.2%| 


5 


I 9.5%| 


24 


I H.3%| 


13.7% 


TOTALS ALL SHELLS 


. \ 28 


1 98.4%| 


51 


| 96.9%| 


204 


1 97.4%| 


95.2% 



AREA X. 

Boundaries, Winona, Minn, (high bridge) to La Moille, 
Minn. Status, closed to fishery. Length in Linear Miles, 7.2. 
Physical Conditions, 2 ft. high water; current 4 miles per 
hour; bottom, sand and gravel; many snags. 



30 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



LOCALITIES REPORTED UPON. (ref. maps.) 

X — 4. Sheer boom, 450 ft. north of Burlington bridge at 
Winona; drags 15-25 ft. from edge off Minnesota shore. 
August 24, 1920. 

X — 6. Above Homer, starting opposite 700 ft. elevation 
and dragging, down to point with 655 elevation; 25 ft. off 
Minnesota shore. August 25, 1920. 

X — 9. Starting at point adjacent to Homer at 680 eleva- 
tion, 25 ft. from shore. August 25, 1920. 

NOTES ON AREA. 

Locality X-4 represents what appears to be a thriving and 
previously unworked bed of shells, extending beneath the 
Burlington bridge at Winona. While shells are fairly common 
at Homer Station, riff-raff on the bottom made their collec- 
tion somewhat difficult. In the vicinity of Govt. Day Mark 
851-a (840-86 elevation) the party planted 150 pigtoes, 
(F. undata) , and 100 three ridges, (A. peruviana) in hopes 
of ultimately starting a bed there. Fresh water sponges and 
crayfishes of the identification already given were also collect- 
ed- at Homer. 



REPORT ON THE STUDY AND APPRAISAL, ETC. 



31 



AREA X. 



COMMERCIAL SPECIES 



Hi-J 



>"J 



?*J 



> c 



Fusconaja ebena 

Pleurobema catillus 

Obovaria olivaria 

Quadrula postulosa 

Quadrula (luadrula 

Quadrula metanevra 

R>tundaria granifera 

Obliquaria reflexa 

Fusconaja undata 

Amblema peruviana 

A mblema costata 

Megalonais heros 

Quadrula verrucosa 

Actinonais carinata 

Lampsilis higginsii 

Lampsilis siliquoidea 

Plagiola lineolata , 

Amygdalonais truneata 

Lampsilis ventricosa 

Lampsilis anodontoides 

Lampsilis fallaciosa 

Eurynia recta 

Eurynia subrostrata 

Plethobasus cyphyus 

Lasmigona complanata 

Lasmigona costata 

Proptera alata 

Arcidens confiagosus 

Elliptio niger 

Elliptic dilatatus 

Pleurobema pyramidatum. . . 

Alasmidonta marginata 

Amygdalonais donacifonnis. 



9% 



4.5% 



2.2% 

13.5% 

3.4% 



2.2% 
4.5% 



1.1% 



5.6% 



4% 
1.1% 



4.9% 
1.4% 
6.3% 

2% 



25 



17.5% 



4 
9(1) 
4(1) 

2 



2.8% 
7.4% 
3.7% 
1.4% 



5.9% 
2.2% 

2.2% 



1 
6(2) 
15(1) 

1 



15(2) 



6(1) 
6 
1 



5.9% 
11.8% 



5(1) 
3 



4.4% 
2.1% 



2.8% 



1(1) 



1.4% 



5.4% 

1.5% 

31% 

5% 



13.2% 



5.4% 
4.6% 



1.5% 
3.9% 



1.5% 



12.4% 
3 ! 9% 



1.1% 

* 
1.5% 



6.1% 

1% 

21.8% 

5.3% 

""12% 

"3.'<5% 
8.5% 

2.8% 



3.2% 
3% 



1% 

1.9% 

7% 



2.7% 
* 

'i. - 9% 



2.6% 
1.8% 



1% 



TOTALS. 



79 I 87 .2% I 128 



90%| 121 I 91.8%| 88.3% 



NON-COMMERCIAL SPECIES * 

























2 


i.4% 


1 


* 


1.2% 














6 

4 
(1) 


4.2% 
2.8% 


2 

2 


* 
1.5% 


1.7% 




9 


10.1% 


4.6% 

* 






















(1) 


* 1 







TOTALS 


..! 9 


! 10% | 


14 


1 8.4%| 5 


I 1.5%| 


7.5% 


TOTALS ALL SHELLS 


. | 88 


I 97.2%| 


142 


| 98.4%| 126 


I 93.3%| 


95 . 5% 



32 



THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



From the data presented under the title of each area, the 
following tabulation is made, dealing with the absolute 
abundance of shells in the areas appraised: 





No. Shells 


No. Shells 




Area and 


Commercial Species 


Non-Commercial 


Average All 


Status as to 






Shells per 


Fishery 


per 

Linear Mile 


Species per 
Linear Mile 


Linear Mile 


I. Open 


197.1 


66 


263.1 


II. Closed 


84.1 


47.9 


131.5 


III. Open 


39 


5.61 


44.61 


IV. Closed 


92 


10.3 


102.3 


V. Open 


166.8 


7 


173.8 


VI. Closed 


243.25 


15.5 


258.75 


VII. Open 


14.5 (16.13) 


1 (6.55) 


15.5 (22.68) 


VIII. Closed 


10. (43) 


1.2 (2.8) 


11.2 (45.8) 


IX. Open 


28.24 (54) 


4.76 (7.6) 


33. (61.6) 


X. Closed 


45.3 (62.91) 


4 (8.3) 


49.3 (71.24) 



In the preliminary report of this survey, (p. 2) the data 
given on the absolute abundance of shells in Areas VII-X 
inclusive, was based in large part on collections of shells 
by hand from sand bars, as the latter embraced the larger 
number of best localities in the areas indicated. As it would 
be difficult to use such data in the future as a basis of com- 
parison and rechecking, there has been substituted in this 
final report data obtained from other localities in these areas 
by the use of the bar and crowfoot outfit. Since it is felt 
that, due to the conditions described, that the latter represents 
the true absolute abundance of shells in the areas, there are 
added in parentheses to the above the results obtained from 
collecting by hand on the 3 best sandbars of these areas. For 
each of the 3 localities taken in account for each area, the 
data thus presented embodies the efforts of 3 men collecting 
by hand 30 minutes, a total consumption of 90 minutes time, 
and about that required to make 3 drags with the bars in any 
given locality. The results from, the sandbars may be inter- 
preted to represent the maximum of shells in the particular 
area. 



VII. REMARKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 

The tables given indicate that commercial species of mus- 
sels in the areas appraised are most abundant in the vicinity 



33 

oi. Red Wing, Minn., and in Lake Pepin. There is a decline 
in the number of the mussels in succeeding stretches of the 
river until the lower half of Lape Pepin is reached. Upon 
leaving the lake, a most marked diminution in their numbers 
occurs but on the other hand the absolute number of shells 
increases going down stream, showing that the necessary 
conditions for mussel life are present, and, on the whole 
steadily improving. When it appears practicable to attempt 
the rehabilitation of the mussel beds below Lape Pepin, the 
following recommendation based upon the preceding infor- 
mation may receive consideration, viz: 

1. Restoring old, but favorably situated beds in closed 
areas with advanced juveniles of commercial species. Such 
beds are those existing at the foot of Lake Pepin, Wabasha, 
Teepeeota Point, and those at Winona and Homer, Minn. If 
judged by the abundance of juveniles collected, the areas to 
be stocked in order are VI, VIII, IV. 

2. Restocking and propagation of desirable species in cer- 
tain sloughs, both in open an dclosed areas, as the young shells 
in the former case would be protected by the prevailing sen- 
timent among mussel fishermen toward them. Sloughs offer- 
ing some promise in this respect are the Belvedere below 
Minneiska, West Newton Chute near Alma, and the Straight 
Slough near Winona. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



002 903 645 7 < 



